The new “fad” of reality shows on TV have become popular because of how easily people can relate to them, or how easily they think they can relate to them if they actually try to. These shows are pretty much real people, going on with every day life, just with cameras following their every move. What the viewing public fails to realize is that these people, and their interactions are far from average. The things they do, they are paid for, and the more outrageous, or voyeuristic the actions they do on camera are, the more viewers, thus the more they're paid. This has a huge negative influence on the public, by tricking them into thinking they will be more popular, or more widely loved, and known if they do bad, or indecent things. In other words, if a reality TV star were to get pregnant, everyone, including people who don't even watch the show, will find out about it because it happened on TV, so some of the people who watch the show would think that getting pregnant is the popular or “cool” thing to do. Sadly, most of the people who watch reality TV are the most impressionable of our population, the teenagers. Visit the link here for details on the latest happenings around the Reality TV shows today.
Teenagers will say, and do almost anything for recognition, either from their peers, or from their family members. So, seeing their favorite TV star getting a lot of recognition from having a child, could likely put them into a state of mind where they think that if they get a girl pregnant, or if they're a girl, get pregnant themselves, then they to will be the subjects of popularity, and adoration from family, and friends alike. Also, teens are more likely to imitate the actions of those on reality TV in ways such as, they may decide to drink, or try drugs if they see those on the show doing those things. The rate at which teens, and young adults drop out of high school is rising, as is the rate of drug charges in teens, since the reality TV genre has gotten more popular. I feel that if the genre continues, then the number of teens trying drugs, or dropping out of school, or even teenagers having children they're unable to care for, will continue to rise as well.
The reality TV genre, in my opinion has come with a whole host of problems that plague our youth. Like the fact that teenagers now are more materialistic, and less likely to want to go to college but would prefer to be “internet stars” on website like YouTube doing things that they saw on reality TV shows, in sketch form, further influencing more people to do the same. Also, the rate of suicide in teenagers has risen exponentially in the past 5 years, which I believe is a more indirect result of reality TV, as it's further out-casting some of the teens in our society. Teenagers believing that they have to have a certain phone, shirt, style, or hobby, or that they have to be able to sleep with whomever they please whenever they want, or that they have to go to a lot of parties, and so on, to fit in makes those who can't afford the material things, or those who have more trouble making friends, and meeting potential lovers, feel even less adequate than they would 10 years ago. Go here for discounts on Comcast Triple Play Xfinity Deals.
I personally have talked to quite a few teenagers who feel like they don't fit in just because they don't have a smart phone, or the newest clothes, accessories. I feel like this is another indirect result of reality TV where everyone always has the newest, and best of everything, which in turn influences the younger generation to find a way of getting those things as well. Though, all TV shows, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment do the same thing, seeing it on reality TV where, “it's real life”, just furthers the image of yourself having what they have, which makes you want it that much more, and you're more likely to splurge, and buy something you can't necessarily afford, or buy something in the same situation for your kids, especially teenagers. So, I suppose, in a way, reality TV has also increased the poverty level of our society, beings as they also influence the older generations quite a bit. I'm sure there are adults who have quit their jobs to make more time to pursue “the party life” that the see on these shows, or people who've been fired for doing certain things they saw on these shows which were against their company's policy of conduct for their employees.
In conclusion, I would have to say that, all in all, reality TV presents more of a problem for our society than it does any sort of benefit. It can be fun to watch, sometimes, but when fun to watch becomes “I should try that sometime”, or “I'm gonna buy one of those”/”I'm gonna get my parents to buy me that”, etc. Then it becomes a problem, and I'm sure those three sentences have been spoken, though not necessarily out loud, much more than once. If we could somehow get people, of all ages, but especially teenagers, to realize, that what they see on TV is not how they should try to live their lives, then I feel reality TV could be more of a benefit. Or instead, if we could get people to view reality shows as a guidelines of how not to live their own lives, then it would definitely be a benefit, though as it stands, it's making impressions, whether people realize it or not, that are negatively affecting many people, and their families.
Teenagers will say, and do almost anything for recognition, either from their peers, or from their family members. So, seeing their favorite TV star getting a lot of recognition from having a child, could likely put them into a state of mind where they think that if they get a girl pregnant, or if they're a girl, get pregnant themselves, then they to will be the subjects of popularity, and adoration from family, and friends alike. Also, teens are more likely to imitate the actions of those on reality TV in ways such as, they may decide to drink, or try drugs if they see those on the show doing those things. The rate at which teens, and young adults drop out of high school is rising, as is the rate of drug charges in teens, since the reality TV genre has gotten more popular. I feel that if the genre continues, then the number of teens trying drugs, or dropping out of school, or even teenagers having children they're unable to care for, will continue to rise as well.
The reality TV genre, in my opinion has come with a whole host of problems that plague our youth. Like the fact that teenagers now are more materialistic, and less likely to want to go to college but would prefer to be “internet stars” on website like YouTube doing things that they saw on reality TV shows, in sketch form, further influencing more people to do the same. Also, the rate of suicide in teenagers has risen exponentially in the past 5 years, which I believe is a more indirect result of reality TV, as it's further out-casting some of the teens in our society. Teenagers believing that they have to have a certain phone, shirt, style, or hobby, or that they have to be able to sleep with whomever they please whenever they want, or that they have to go to a lot of parties, and so on, to fit in makes those who can't afford the material things, or those who have more trouble making friends, and meeting potential lovers, feel even less adequate than they would 10 years ago. Go here for discounts on Comcast Triple Play Xfinity Deals.
I personally have talked to quite a few teenagers who feel like they don't fit in just because they don't have a smart phone, or the newest clothes, accessories. I feel like this is another indirect result of reality TV where everyone always has the newest, and best of everything, which in turn influences the younger generation to find a way of getting those things as well. Though, all TV shows, movies, music, and other forms of entertainment do the same thing, seeing it on reality TV where, “it's real life”, just furthers the image of yourself having what they have, which makes you want it that much more, and you're more likely to splurge, and buy something you can't necessarily afford, or buy something in the same situation for your kids, especially teenagers. So, I suppose, in a way, reality TV has also increased the poverty level of our society, beings as they also influence the older generations quite a bit. I'm sure there are adults who have quit their jobs to make more time to pursue “the party life” that the see on these shows, or people who've been fired for doing certain things they saw on these shows which were against their company's policy of conduct for their employees.
In conclusion, I would have to say that, all in all, reality TV presents more of a problem for our society than it does any sort of benefit. It can be fun to watch, sometimes, but when fun to watch becomes “I should try that sometime”, or “I'm gonna buy one of those”/”I'm gonna get my parents to buy me that”, etc. Then it becomes a problem, and I'm sure those three sentences have been spoken, though not necessarily out loud, much more than once. If we could somehow get people, of all ages, but especially teenagers, to realize, that what they see on TV is not how they should try to live their lives, then I feel reality TV could be more of a benefit. Or instead, if we could get people to view reality shows as a guidelines of how not to live their own lives, then it would definitely be a benefit, though as it stands, it's making impressions, whether people realize it or not, that are negatively affecting many people, and their families.
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